Within moments of the first goal fans chanted: “We want Pardew out” before a chant of “Alan Pardew - it’s never your fault.”

Pardew didn’t move from his dugout for much of the first half and with Mike Ashley watching from above him in the stand as Southampton dominated a chorus of: “We’re going to have a party when Pardew gets the sack.”

The Londoner’s misery was compounded by chants in support of departed loanee Hatem Ben Arfa.

And in the second half, despite the best efforts of stewards to remove them, banners reading “Pardew out” and “Pardew is a muppet” appeared in the away section.

One fan also sprinted on to the field to get to Pardew before being restrained by stewards.